They convicted them as witches, which meant that they were to be taken to jail and/or hanged. This was also a devious way of getting land, which was the equivalent of power and money; they convicted people of being witches so their land goes for sale. They then buy the land and they get more income and more power. This shows that Abigail is willing to do what ever she can in her power to get what she desires.
John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor’s relationship is very tainted due to this affair with Abigail Williams. She has not really forgiven Proctor. When John arrives home he spots that Elizabeth is preparing dinner, and takes the lid off the pot to have a look. He has a taste of the soup, and adds seasoning. This shows that their relationship very frail, as Proctor cannot even tell Elizabeth that the soup needs seasoning as he might upset her.
When Mary Warren a helper of the house returns from court, she talks with John Proctor about the court listening, and she said that Elizabeth was somewhat mentioned, and that 39 people we accused of witchcraft.
Reverend Hale arrives at the Proctor’s house to interview them about the current situation. Reverend Hale tests John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor to see whether they are witches or not. They believed that witches could not recite the Ten Commandments, so Reverend Hale asks John Proctor to do so. John Proctor recites all but one commandment, which he forgets, which was “thou shall not commit adultery”. Quickly Elizabeth Proctor fills in the gaps John Proctor made, and stated, “…Between us we know the commandments well…” Reverend Hale is suspicious of the Proctors at the time. This shows that Elizabeth and John’s relationship is very strong, as Elizabeth is willing to help John in a time of need.
Some time after, Elizabeth Proctor was given a doll from Mary Warren, which had a needle stuck into its stomach. Later Abigail Williams was found stabbed in the stomach, and she blamed Elizabeth Proctor of using witchcraft to stab her, but in fact Abigail Williams stabbed herself and planted the needle into the doll when her and Mary were making these dolls. Cheever and Herrich, who are law enforcers, came to arrest Elizabeth Proctor of suspected witchcraft. They chain her up to a cage with many other women who are convicted of witchcraft. Proctor tries to defend Elizabeth Proctor but she say she has to go. John Proctor is furious and suspects Abigail has done this. John Proctor asks Mary Warren that she must tell the court of what Abigail Williams has done, but she is reluctant. But if Mary Warren does, Abigail Williams will just tell the court that John Proctor has committed adultery and he would certainly go to jail if not hanged. This shows that Elizabeth and John’s relationship is still going strong, as John is trying to protect Elizabeth, as he does not believe she is a witch.
John Proctor finally admits to adultery to the court, and makes his story more believable, and asks for Elizabeth Proctor’s confirmation, so the judges ask for Elizabeth Proctor to be taken out of jail and asked a few questions. Elizabeth Proctor lies to the court, saying that John has not committed adultery, but John Proctor says that she doesn’t have to cover for him anymore. John accuses the court of fraud saying “... You are pulling down heaven and raising up a whore…” John Proctor is then arrested and scheduled to be hanged. This shows that Elizabeth still loves John, after all they have been through, as she is willing to stay in jail and possibly die for John.
Reverend Hale believes that John Proctor is not guilty and says the town has gone mad as he realises innocent people are being executed, so he leaves. He later then returns to persuade people to lie and admit they are witches to save their lives. Abigail Williams flees Salem to go to Boston, as they are realise they are being found out.
Elizabeth Proctor admits that she has been a cold wife, and she has forced John Proctor to commit adultery. With their relationship healing John Proctor decides to confess to look after the children. He signs the confession, but Danforth wants it to be posted on the church door for everyone to see. John Proctor gets angry with this, as he wants his son’s to live their lives in honour and not in shame. So he tears up the confession meaning he will be hanged. John Proctor forgives himself and is eventually hanged.
John Proctor is a strong and important character in this play, The Crucible. Towards the end of act three he admits that he is a witch and he claims he can see the devil. He says, “God is dead” because God does not seem to be helping the people through this town crisis. Proctor’s decision, at the end of the play, certainly changes your mind about him and he turns into a hero.
John Proctor was turned from a well-respected man into a prisoner of Salem’s jail. All this happened because he committed adultery, and could not hide the fact that he did so.
I believe that John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor’s relationship is the focus of the play, as Abigail Williams starts this hysteria because she is jealous that the man she loves is married. So Abigail decides to charge Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch so therefore John Proctor will be by himself. Their relationship is central to the play as without it, there would have been no reason for Abigail Williams to begin all this chaos. Thus meaning the play would have no twist in the plot whatsoever.
Elizabeth Proctor and John Proctor’s relationship stayed strong throughout the piece of drama, even through the foggiest of paths they went through. John knew when to keep quiet about the subject, and so did Elizabeth Proctor. Their relationship was at it’s strongest towards the end of the play, as it showed how much John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor cared about each other and needed each other’s company.
What urged Proctor to go to court in the first place was Elizabeth Proctor. When she heard that Rebecca Nurse, a religious woman who does not even believe in witchcraft, had been arrested for practising witchcraft. Elizabeth knew it had gone too far and wanted Proctor to tell the truth about Abigail Williams and why she is telling all these lies, to get at Proctor because he does not want to be with her. Going to court was a big mistake it ended in him being condemned.
Abigail Williams tried to pursue her dream of having a relationship with John, but when she realised that John would not allow it, Abigail Williams tried to get rid of Elizabeth so she had a greater chance. But as she noticed that her plan did not work, she fled to Boston to become a prostitute, and to never again be seen.
